Roberto Luongo Voted to Western Conference All-Star Starters

...Luongo becomes 3rd Canuck to be voted by fans to the All-Star Game's Western Conference team.

Vancouver, BC - The Vancouver Canucks are pleased to announce goaltender Roberto Luongo has been named to the Western Conference All-Star Team's starting line-up for the 2007 NHL All-Star Game in Dallas after receiving 484, 861 fan votes.

Luongo's appearance in Dallas will mark the fifth time in Canucks history that a player was selected by fans to the All-Star Game starting line-up after Pavel Bure was voted to the Western Conference squad in 1993, 1994 and in 1996, but was unable to play in 1996 due to injury.

It will also mark the first time a goaltender has represented the Vancouver Canucks at the NHL All-Star Game since Kirk McLean in 1992.

Roberto Luongo, 27, has appeared in 41 games this season for the Canucks recording a 2.44 GAA and a .914 save percentage. His 24 victories lead all Western Conference goaltenders and rank him second overall in wins among goaltenders in the National Hockey League.

Luongo was acquired by Vancouver on June 23rd, 2006 along with defenceman Lukas Krajicek and a sixth round pick in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft from the Florida Panthers in exchange for Bryan Allen, Alex Auld and Todd Bertuzzi.

This will be Luongo's second All-Star appearance after he was selected during the 2003-04 as a member of the Florida Panthers by the NHL's Hockey Operations Department after consultation with League General Managers.

PersonalRoberto's nickname is Louie...His favorite player growing up was Grant Fuhr...In the off-season he lives in Montreal and Florida...Roberto founded his own charity called Louie Saves Lives...His brother Fabio is a goalie in the Ontario Hockey League...Roberto and his wife Gina were married this past spring...Before the game he likes to sit in the stands and tape his stick...He also likes to play poker, golf and watch movies...Roberto's first job was selling shoes in his father's shoe store.

2005-2006 NHL Season Set a Panthers franchise record with his 107th career win, Apr. 13 at Ott.

Career2004-2005: Appeared in two games with team Canada in the World Championships, posting a winning record (1-0-1): 40 saves and one shutout...Helped team Canada win the 2004 World Cup Tournament, posting a winning record (1-0-0) with 37 saves.

2003-04: Completed his fifth NHL season, fourth with Fla, setting NHL records for saves (2,303) and shots against (2,475)... Finished the season as the NHL's active shutout leader prior to turning 25 years old, with 23, topping Martin Brodeur's 22...Finalist for the Vezina Trophy and finished third in the voting...Finalist for the Lester B. Pearson Award...Finished sixth in voting for the Hart Trophy... Made first ever NHL All-Star Game appearance, winning the SuperSkills goalie competition and stopping 8-of-9 shots in the third period in a 6-4 victory for the Eastern Conference... Played in his 200th career NHL game Oct. 20 at NYR (3-1 loss).

2002-03: Completed his fourth NHL season, third with Fla... Missed Mar. 27 at StL with a bruised knee... Missed three games Nov. 7-11 with back spasms...Won gold medal with Team Canada at the 2003 World Championships in Finland, stopping 37 of 39 shots in the gold medal game.

2001-02: Made 37 saves for Team Melrose to win inaugural NHL YoungStars Game at All-Star weekend in LA on Feb. 1.

2000-01: Completed first full NHL season...Became the first rookie in Panthers history to record a shutout with 0-0 tie (20 saves), Oct. 22 at Min...Made Panthers debut losing 4-2 (22 saves), Oct. 9 at Bos.

1999-00: Stopped his first career NHL penalty shot (Dan Kesa), Jan. 13 at TB...Recorded first NHL shutout Dec. 27 vs Bos (3-0) with 34 saves... Made NHL debut and won his first career NHL game with a 43-save effort Nov. 28 at Bos... His 43 saves in NHL debut established a new NYI record.

1998-99: Led all QMJHL goaltenders in playoff games played (23), wins (16) and minutes (1,400) and finished 16-6 overall in the postseason, with a 2.74 GAA, as he led his club to the Memorial Cup Finals.

1997-98: Drafted first round, fourth overall in the 1997 NHL Entry Draft by the NYI, making him the highest drafted goaltender in league history at that date.

1996-97: Played 60 games with Val d'Or, winning a team-record 32 times.

1995-96: Appeared in 23 games in his rookie season with Val d'Or, finishing 6-11-4 with a 3.70 GAA.